Jewelry Adapter

ABSTRACT

A jewelry adapter to be used as an earring or with a necklace is described herein. The jewelry adapters permit a person with pierced ears to wear large diameter earrings that are typically only capable of being worn by people with stretched ear holes. A jewelry adapter for use as an earring within a pierced hole of an ear includes an adapter body having an aperture, a post extending substantially perpendicularly outward from the adapter body, wherein the post is received within the pierced hole of the ear, a tunnel located within the aperture, and a large diameter earring located within the tunnel. A jewelry adapter for use with a necklace includes an adapter body including an aperture, a loop located behind the adapter body, wherein the loop receives the necklace within the loop, a tunnel located within the aperture, and a large diameter earring located within the tunnel.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a jewelry adapter and, more particularly, to a jewelry adapter for converting large diameter ear gauges for use with typical pierced ears and necklaces.

BACKGROUND

It is very common for people worldwide to have some part of their bodies pierced. Most common, is for people to have pierced ears. Body jewelry typically includes jewelry specifically intended for use in body piercing. Body jewelry may include ornamental jewelry that may be worn on all parts of the body, such as ears, face, nose, and the like. Body jewelry may include any variety of shapes, including rings, plugs, or various other shapes.

Currently, pierced earrings may be constructed with a pin, post or shaft affixed to a decorative end of the earring. Conventional post earrings or other piercing jewelry typically include a wire or post for penetrating the skin of the ear lobe. A first end of the post may be provided with an ornamental surface or end, and the second end of the post may be provided with a removable clasp or anchor of some sort to maintain the earring on the ear while being worn.

During use, the shaft of the earring may be inserted into a pierced hole 16 in the ear 14, as shown in FIG. 1, such as the ear lobe, and the earring may be secured in place with some sort of backing. This backing may generally have an aperture to receive the shaft that may snap into place on a groove that may be provided along the circumference of the shaft of the earring near its end.

For example, in the case of a cylindrical ring worn in a person's ear, the ring may be slid into a piercing, such as a pierced hole 16, formed in the ear 14, such that the outside of the cylindrical ring contacts the inside of the pierced ear hole. The cylindrical ring may be held in place by the contact between the cylindrical ring and the skin on the inside of the pierced hole.

Stretching, in the context of body piercing, is the deliberate expansion of a healed fistula for the purpose of wearing body piercing jewelry. Stretched ear piercings are the most commonly stretched piercings. Stretching is usually done in small increments to minimize the potential for damaging the healed fistula or creating scar tissue. The originally pierced hole may be expanded or stretched such that the stretched hole 18 in the ear 14, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, may be too large to retain some smaller pieces of body jewelry, whereby that person may utilize large diameter ear gauges, plugs or the like.

Ear gauges, spirals, plugs, posts, flesh tubes and other flesh piercing jewelry 20, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, may commonly be worn in various diameters that may vary in diameter from less than one millimeter to sizes as large as may be desired. The typical jewelry worn in a large stretched ear piercing hole 18 is a plug. It is solid and usually cylindrical, and may be flared out at one or both ends (saddle-shaped).

There is a large variety of jewelry available for stretched piercings. Many jewelry materials can be used in the manufacturing of jewelry for stretched piercings, such as materials that would ordinarily be too delicate or brittle to be inserted in smaller-gauge piercings may be used. People with normal pierced ears 16 (i.e., that do not have stretched piercings), however, cannot wear these larger gauge earrings 20.

Therefore, it may be desirable to provide a jewelry adapter that may permit a person with normal pierced ears 16 to be able to wear larger diameter ear spirals 20, posts, and the like in their pierced ears. It may also be desirable to provide a jewelry adapter that may permit a person to be able to wear these larger diameter ear spirals 20, posts and the like as a necklace.

SUMMARY

A jewelry adapter that may be used as an earring or with a necklace is described herein. The jewelry adapters may permit a person with pierced ears to wear large diameter earrings that are typically only capable of being worn by people with stretched ear holes. A jewelry adapter for use as an earring within a pierced hole of an ear. The jewelry adapter may include an adapter body having an aperture, a post extending substantially perpendicularly outward from the adapter body, wherein the post is capable of being received within the pierced hole of the ear, a tunnel located within the aperture, and a large diameter earring capable of being located and removably secured within the tunnel.

A jewelry adapter for use with a necklace, including an adapter body including an aperture, a loop located behind the adapter body, wherein the loop is capable of receiving the necklace within the loop, a tunnel located within the aperture, and a large diameter earring capable of being located and removably secured within the tunnel. The jewelry adapters may include a pair of O-rings located at each end of the tunnel. The jewelry adapters may include a plurality of decorative features located on the adapter body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Objects and advantages together with the operation of the invention may be better understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the following illustrations, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view an ear with an ear piercing hole.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of an ear with a stretched ear piercing hole with a large diameter or gauge earring.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of an ear with a stretched ear piercing hole with a large diameter or gauge earring being worn.

FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of an embodiment of an ear with an ear piercing hole as shown in FIG. 1 in use with a jewelry adapter and large diameter earring.

FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of the jewelry adapter, tunnel and O-rings of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the jewelry adapter of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of a tunnel and O-rings of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a necklace in use with a jewelry adapter and large diameter earring.

FIG. 9 illustrates a front view of the jewelry adapter of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of the jewelry adapter of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the respective scope of the invention. As such, the following description is presented by way of illustration only and should not limit in any way the various alternatives and modifications that may be made to the illustrated embodiments and still be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, as used herein, the term “exemplary” is intended to mean serving as an illustration or example of something, and is not intended to indicate a preference.

A jewelry adapter 10, 12 is illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 and 8-10. The jewelry adapter 10, 12 may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration. The jewelry adapter 10, 12 may be utilized for any appropriate purpose. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the jewelry adapter 10, 12 may be utilized as a pierced ear adapter 10, a necklace adapter 12 and the like. While the use of the jewelry adapter 10, 12 has been shown for use with pierced earrings and necklaces, these are illustrative embodiments only and are not meant to be limiting in any way.

The jewelry adapter 10 may be utilized with a large diameter earring 20 or large diameter ear gauge to be worn in a normal pierced ear earring hole 16. For example, the earrings 20 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are, by themselves, not compatible with a typical pierced ear 16 shown in FIG. 1. The diameter of the earrings 20 may be much larger than the pierced ear hole 16. For illustrative purposes only, the earrings 20 may have diameters that may range from approximately 6.5 mm to approximately 16 mm.

The jewelry adapters 10, 12 may be utilized to permit these large diameter earrings 20 to be worn by someone with a regular pierced ear 16 or as a pendant on a necklace 38. The jewelry adapters 10, 12 may adapt all or most large diameter earrings 20 to be worn in pierced ears 16 or on a necklace 38. The earrings 20 may be of any appropriate shape, size, diameter, type or configuration and should not be limited to what is shown here for illustrative purposes. For example, the earrings 20 may be of various claw-shaped, talon-shaped, and spiral-shaped and other decoratively shaped pieces 20. The earrings 20 may also be fabricated out of any appropriate type of material, such as stone, fossilized materials, wood, bone, metal, horn, amber, bamboo, silicone, glass and the like.

As shown in FIG. 4, the jewelry adapter 10 may permit someone with pierced ears 16 to be able to wear large diameter earrings 20. The jewelry adapter 10 for earrings may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration. In an illustrative embodiment, the jewelry adapter 10 may include a generally rectangular shaped body when viewed from the front, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, however, the jewelry adapter 10 may also be of a circular, triangular or any other combination of shapes. The jewelry adapter 10 for earrings may include a post or shaft 22, an aperture 24 for the large diameter earring 20, and an earring back 26.

The post 22 may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration. For example, the post 22 may be of a generally cylindrical shape of a small diameter, such as those typical for pierced ears. The post 22 may be located at any appropriate position on the jewelry adapter 10, such as being located on one side of the jewelry adapter 10, whereby the post 22 may be out of sight while being worn, as shown in FIG. 4. The post 22 may be located adjacent an upper end of the jewelry adapter 10, as shown in FIG. 6. The post 22 may extend substantially perpendicularly outward from the back of the jewelry adapter 10, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The post 22 may also include a groove (not shown) located towards the end opposite that of the jewelry adapter 10. The groove may aid the earring back 26 in staying on the post 22 during use.

The aperture 24 may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as of a generally circular or cylindrical shape, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The aperture 24 may be of an appropriate shape and size to receive a large diameter earring 20 therein. The aperture 24 may be of an appropriate shape and size to receive and retain a tunnel 30 therein. The aperture 24 may be located at any appropriate position on the jewelry adapter 10. For example, the aperture 24 may be located at a lower end of the jewelry adapter 10, whereby the aperture 24 may be located at the end opposite that of the post 22, as shown in FIG. 6.

The aperture 24 may be formed by a portion of the jewelry adapter 10 being bent or curved around the back of the jewelry adapter 10 body to form a cylindrical shape, as shown in FIG. 6, whereby the aperture 24 is integrally formed with the jewelry adapter 10. Alternatively, the aperture 24 may be formed from a cylindrically shaped piece (not shown) being secured to the back of the jewelry adapter 10 body.

The earring back 26 may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration. For example, the earring back 26 may generally be of a shape and size to receive the post 22 therein as well as retain the post 22 therein during use.

The jewelry adapter 10 for earrings may also include at least one decorative feature 28. For example, the jewelry adapter 10 for earrings may include any appropriate number of decorative features 28. The decorative features 28 may be of any appropriate shape, size, type, color or configuration, such as of a geometric shape, stripes, designs, and the like. For example, the decorative feature 28 may be a raised circular shape extending outward from the jewelry adapter 10, as shown in FIGS. 4-6.

In an exemplary embodiment, the jewelry adapter 10 may include a tunnel 30, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7. The tunnel 30 may be located at any appropriate position on the adapter 10, such as within the aperture 24 of the adapter 10. The tunnel 30 may be of any appropriate shape, size, diameter, length, type or configuration. The tunnel 30 may be fabricated out of any appropriate type of material, such as rubber silicone or the like. The tunnel 30 may protect the earring 20 and stabilizes the earring 20 within the jewelry adapter 10.

In an exemplary embodiment, the jewelry adapter 10 may include two O-rings 32, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7. The O-rings 32 may be of any appropriate shape, size, diameter, type or configuration. The O-rings 32 may be fabricated out of any appropriate type of material, such as rubber. The O-rings 32 may be located at any appropriate position on the jewelry adapter 10, such as located at either end of the tunnel 30, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7. As shown in FIG. 4, the O-rings 32 may maintain the earring 20 in place within the jewelry adapter 10. The O-rings 32 may also help prevent the earring 20 from falling out of the tunnel 30 during use.

The jewelry adapter 12 for necklaces may include an aperture 34 and a loop 36 for the necklace 38. The jewelry adapter 12 for necklaces may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration. In an illustrative embodiment, the jewelry adapter 12 may include a generally triangular shaped body located above a generally square or rectangular shape when viewed from the front, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, however, the jewelry adapter 12 may also be of a circular, rectangular or any other combination of shapes. Any appropriate shape, size or type of necklace 38 may be used with the jewelry adapter 12.

The aperture 34 may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as of a generally circular or cylindrical shape, as illustrated in FIG. 10. The aperture 34 may be of an appropriate shape and size to receive a large diameter earring 20 therein. The aperture 34 may be of an appropriate shape and size to receive and retain a tunnel 30 therein. The aperture 34 may be located at any appropriate position on the jewelry adapter 12. For example, the aperture 34 may be located at a lower end of the jewelry adapter 12, as shown in FIG. 10.

The aperture 34 may be formed by a portion of the jewelry adapter 12 being bent or curved around the back of the jewelry adapter 12 body to form a cylindrical shape, as shown in FIG. 10, whereby the aperture 34 is integrally formed with the jewelry adapter 12. Alternatively, the aperture 34 may be formed from a cylindrically shaped piece (not shown) being secured to the back of the jewelry adapter 12 body.

In an exemplary embodiment, the jewelry adapter 12 may include a tunnel 30, as shown in FIG. 8. The tunnel 30 may be located at any appropriate position on the adapter 12, such as within the aperture 34 of the adapter 12. The tunnel 30 may be of any appropriate shape, size, diameter, length, type or configuration. The tunnel 30 may be fabricated out of any appropriate type of material, such as rubber silicone or the like. The tunnel 30 may protect the earring 20 and stabilizes the earring 20 within the jewelry adapter 12.

In an exemplary embodiment, the jewelry adapter 12 may include two O-rings 32, as shown in FIG. 8. The O-rings 32 may be of any appropriate shape, size, diameter, type or configuration. The O-rings 32 may be fabricated out of any appropriate type of material, such as rubber. The O-rings 32 may be located at any appropriate position on the jewelry adapter 12, such as located at either end of the tunnel 30, as shown in FIG. 8. With additional reference to FIG. 8, the O-rings 32 may maintain the earring 20 in place within the jewelry adapter 12. The O-rings 32 may also help prevent the earring 20 from falling out of the tunnel 30 during use.

Both jewelry adapters 10, 12 may utilize the same shaped and sized large diameter earrings 20, tunnels 30 and O-rings 32, whereby the earrings 20, tunnels 30 and O-rings 32 may be interchangeable for both jewelry adapters 10, 12.

The loop 36 for the necklace 38 may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration. For example, the loop 36 may be of a size that may be small enough to be partially or completely hidden behind the jewelry adapter 12. The loop 36 may be of an appropriate diameter whereby a necklace 38 may be located and freely move within the loop 36.

The loop 36 may be located at any appropriate position on the jewelry adapter 12, such as located on a rear portion of the jewelry adapter 12, whereby the loop 36 may be partially or completely out of sight while wearing the necklace 38, as shown in FIG. 8. The loop 36 may also be located adjacent an upper end of the jewelry adapter 12, whereby the loop 36 may be at the end opposite that of the aperture 34, as shown in FIG. 10. The loop 36 may be integrally formed with the jewelry adapter 12 body or may be a separate cylindrically shaped piece that may be secured to the back of the jewelry adapter 12 body.

The jewelry adapter 12 for necklaces may also include at least one decorative feature 40. For example, the jewelry adapter 12 for necklaces may include any appropriate number of decorative features 40. The decorative features 40 may be of any appropriate shape, size, type, color or configuration, such as of a geometric shape, stripes, designs, and the like. For example, the decorative feature 40 may be a raised circular shape extending outward from the jewelry adapter 12, as shown in FIGS. 8-10.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been described as exemplary embodiments for purposes of brevity, clarity and understanding. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover the descriptions and illustrations herein are by way of examples and the invention is not limited to the features shown or described.

Further, in the following claims any feature described as a means for performing a function shall be construed as encompassing any means known to those skilled in the art as being capable of carrying out the recited function, and shall not be deemed limited to the particular means shown or described for performing the recited function in the foregoing description, or mere equivalents thereof.

Having described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which it is constructed and operated, any of the advantages and useful results attained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, combinations, systems, equipment, operations, methods, processes and relationships are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments disclosed, but that the invention described herein is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the claims hereafter. 

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed:
 1. A jewelry adapter for use as an earring within a pierced hole of an ear, the jewelry adapter comprising: an adapter body including an aperture; a post extending substantially perpendicularly outward from the adapter body, wherein the post is capable of being received within the pierced hole of the ear; and a large diameter earring capable of being located and removably secured within the aperture.
 2. The jewelry adapter according to claim 1, wherein the adapter body is a substantially rectangular shape.
 3. The jewelry adapter according to claim 1, wherein the jewelry adapter further includes an earring back capable of being secured onto the post.
 4. The jewelry adapter according to claim 1 further comprising a tunnel located within the aperture, wherein the earring is located within the tunnel.
 5. The jewelry adapter according to claim 4, wherein the tunnel is fabricated out of rubber silicone.
 6. The jewelry adapter according to claim 4, wherein the jewelry adapter further includes a pair of O-rings.
 7. The jewelry adapter according to claim 6, wherein the pair of O-rings are located at each end of the tunnel.
 8. The jewelry adapter according to claim 1, wherein aperture is integral with the adapter body.
 9. The jewelry adapter according to claim 1, wherein the post is located at an end of the adapter body opposite that of the aperture.
 10. The jewelry adapter according to claim 1, wherein the jewelry adapter further includes a plurality of decorative features located on the adapter body.
 11. A jewelry adapter for use with a necklace, the jewelry adapter comprising: an adapter body including an aperture; a loop located behind the adapter body, wherein the loop is capable of receiving the necklace within the loop; and a large diameter earring capable of being located and removably secured within the aperture.
 12. The jewelry adapter of claim 11, wherein the jewelry adapter further includes a plurality of decorative features located on the adapter body.
 13. The jewelry adapter according to claim 11, wherein the adapter body is a substantially triangular shape.
 14. The jewelry adapter according to claim 11 further comprising a tunnel located within the aperture, wherein the earring is located within the tunnel.
 15. The jewelry adapter according to claim 14, wherein the tunnel is fabricated out of rubber silicone.
 16. The jewelry adapter according to claim 14, wherein the jewelry adapter further includes a pair of O-rings.
 17. The jewelry adapter according to claim 16, wherein the pair of O-rings are located at each end of the tunnel.
 18. The jewelry adapter according to claim 11, wherein the loop is located at an end of the adapter body opposite that of the aperture. 